Blogs
Explore Insights and Strategies for Financial Success
A Smarter 401(k) Philosophy for Utility Employees
In this mini-episode, Steve explains why generic investment advice can fall short, especially for utility employees with cash balance pensions, profit-sharing plans, and other employer-sponsored benefits. He shares his philosophy of integrating every piece of your retirement puzzle rather than treating your 401(k) as a standalone account. Here’s some of [...]
Is Your SCE 401(k) Working As Hard As You Are?
If you're a Southern California Edison employee, your retirement benefits may be more powerful- and more complicated- than you realize. Steve breaks down the different levels of 401(k) management, explains how the SCE cash balance pension works, and highlights common mistakes employees make when relying on default investment options. You'll [...]
PG&E Employees: Your 401(k) Has Three Gears- Most of You Are Still in First
Most PG&E employees are only scratching the surface of what their retirement plan can actually do. In this episode, Steve breaks down the three “tiers” of the PG&E retirement system and discusses how more advanced planning strategies can create a very different retirement outcome. Tune in to hear the common [...]
You Did the Hard Part. Here’s Why the Next Part Is Different
You’ve spent decades doing the hard part and if you’ve done it well, it’s natural to wonder… why change anything now? But retirement isn’t just a continuation of what you’ve already been doing. It’s a completely different phase with new risks, new decisions, and a lot more at stake. Steve [...]
My Investments Underperformed the Market – Should I Fire My Advisor?
Steve tackles a listener’s big question: “If my portfolio underperformed the market this year, should I fire my advisor?” He breaks down what “the market” really means, why your benchmark should match your portfolio’s purpose and risk level, and why a single 12‑month snapshot can be wildly misleading. Steve also [...]
The Retirement Tax Traps Nobody Warned You About
Nobody likes tax season, but for new retirees, the rules can feel completely different. Income changes, required withdrawals begin, and decisions that once lowered taxes can create bigger bills later. Steve unpacks some of the most common retirement tax mistakes and how they show up in real life. A little [...]
